The Wilmingtonian., 1887-01-29
Reform Prospects.

uiSueoh Vi hppOqulnlmln
spoke quite literally Tuesday last upon I'll
/ question of Constitutional Reform, Prob;
bly, if the whole Legislature were as candi
and large-hearted as the gentleman from tI
9 pentasyllabic township our metropolta
r hearts would grow a little warmer notwith
) standing the arctic temperature that assail
us SO. AS long as we get reform we are no
! over particular about the method. Our con
sclenses are less taut upon that point thar
that OF securing the main object. But Sena.
tor Ferguson in his Tuesday speech make,
some strong arguments which are very prop
erly occupying the thoughts of Wilmington.
ians.
The Senator says :" 1t is believed by those
who have for years past constantly adyoca-
ted, and zealously and faithfully labored for
a fair and reasonable increase of representa-
tion for New Castle county, that this desira.
BILE object is of more feasible, certain and
speedy attainment by legislative amend
ment than by constitutional convention.
Among all the constitutional reforms yet
suggested a fair and reasonable increase of
representation for New Castle county Is OF
the most urgent and paramount import
ance. Upon the merits of the cause it trans
cends and overshadows all Others, because it
alone relates to remedy for the virtual dis
iranchisement of large portion of the peo-
Pile of the most wealthy and popuous sec
tion of our State, Its cause should, there
fore, be heard and tried upon its own sepa-
rate merits, unhampered and unhandicapped
by its connection with other proposed con-
stitutional changes in favor of which there
in far lees urgent necessity and argument
and against which there are far more obiec-
tions and diversity of opinion.
BY simple legislative amendment restrict
ed solely to the cause of an increase of re-
presentation, this desirable object can be
surely attained, while by the conventional
plan this is man,festly impossible.
In constitutional convention all sorts of
men with all kinds of reform ideas, hobbies
and cranky notions will abound. The good
will probably be overweighted by the bad,
the practical by the visionary. and the wise
measures of the disnterested reformer by
the selfish schemes of the ambitious politi- |
clan. And, therefore, especially in the Or : 4
sent unsettled and conflicting public, senU-
ment regarding both the proper measures
and mode of constitutional reform, it is most |
probable that the work of constitutional
convention would prove as futile and fruit.
less as did that of 1862, which resulted in
nothing but useless talk and needless taxa
tion to cover its cost.
As the convention Of 1859 was called es-
pecially for the purpose of obtaining an IL
crease Of representation for New Castle
county, and met with an overwhelming popu-
lar condemnation and proved an ignominious
failure, it would seem feasible for us now
to take warning by its fate and avoid that
plan for securing just rights of New Castle
county which has heretofore proved an utter
ieluson and snare. And since the legisla-
live plan for securing the desire increase was
adopted 10 1888 by an almost unanimous leg.
slative, and came within one of three
rourths vote of ratification in 1884, after
having been previously published for the
Of the people, it is both reas-
unable and proper for us to presume that
his plan has the approval and preference of
The people of all three counties over the con-
'entional plan, and therefore ought now to
,e adopted at the present session of the Gen.
,ral Assembly.
1t is in accordance with this presumption
ind conviction that this bill has been pre-
Jared which is now introduced by me.
1t does not, it is true, give to New Castle ,
Jounty all that we think she is entitled to ,
'ut we fear it is all that we can at present
probably get from our sister counties either
n the number or mode of the increase desir-
d by the people of New Castle County. o.
curse, if we have uuderestimated the will.
ngness of our sister counties to accord what
fair and reasonable to our county, we will |
'heerfully accept a much greater increase
han is provided for in this bill, and cordial
y agree to its amendment in accordance /
w. @. I. u. Instructions.
Following is very important communi- c